The ultimate guide to Barker Oxford shoes sees the current collection explored for one of the most popular Goodyear welted shoe styles, the timeless Oxford. A shoe rack staple for every gentleman and shoe enthusiast, the Oxford shoe a formal shoe style dating back to the 1800s and has origins associated with students of a famous English institution, Oxford University. Originating from a half boot called the ‘Oxonian’ in 1825 which featured narrow slits on the sides making it more comfortable to wear around campus than the fashionable high boots of the time.
Oxford shoes are characterized by a closed lacing system where the shoelace eyelet tabs are attached under the vamp as well as featuring a low heel and exposed ankle. Since its introduction, the men’s Oxford shoe has developed over the years to offer an extensive range of different Oxford styles with the most notable being the plain, toe cap, and the brogue. Oxford's reputation as the formal dress shoe is championed around the world with only the whole cut being seen as a more formal shoe style.
Men’s Oxford shoes are a prominent wedding shoe style within several of the Barker collections including the Handcrafted, London, Professional and BarkerTech ranges to name only a few. A variety of last shapes, leathers, and soles make up the current Barker range of leather Oxford shoes. Barker recently celebrated 140 years of shoemaking in the village of Earls Barton, Northampton (England) and as part of their celebrations, they launched an ‘Icon Series’ championing several historic shoe designs including the Albert, Falsgrave, and Lerwick Oxford shoe styles.
The most popular Oxford shoe design is the classic toe cap which features particularly in the Handcrafted, London, and Professional collections. Favoured Oxford toe cap shoes by Barker include the Arnold, Bank, Malvern, and Winsford styles which are often recommended by the Barker store teams at our London flagship stores located at Regent Street, Jermyn Street, Canary Wharf and in the city. For those of us who prefer rubber-soled Oxford toe cap shoes, we’d recommend are the Burford and Chigwell styles which are made from premium calf uppers on a durable Dainite rubber sole.
The Barker Oxford brogue shoe is a traditional shoe design that has featured in the Barker collection for many seasons and currently features in the Country, London and Professional collections. Within the Professional collection, you’ll discover an extensive range of Oxford brogues including the Albert, Hampstead, Malton and St Ives styles. Furthermore, the Suit Sneaker is new shoe construction within the Professional collection and features the Coleman Oxford brogue, made on the 499 last from premium calf leather on a lightweight EVA sole.
For a classic outdoor Oxford brogue, the Charles from the Country collection is highly recommended as this iconic brogue style is made on one of the oldest last shapes used in the Barker Earls Barton factory, the number 29 last.
The Barker Creative collection includes several Oxford brogues that offer imaginative styling on classic silhouettes such as the McClean, Jax and Valiant Oxford brogues which are available in eye-catching colourways.
When considering a men's Oxford shoe for formal occasions the only shoe style smarter than the classic toe cap Oxford would be a whole cut, made from one single piece of leather to offer a sleek silhouette. Recommended Barker Oxford whole cut shoes include the Armstrong and Nelson styles from the BarkerTech and Professional collections.
Within the Barker Women’s collection the Fearne, Freya and Sloane Goodyear welted Oxford shoes are highly recommended. Explore the latest Barker range of men’s and women’s Oxford shoes online and in-store.
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